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Traffic Switch To New Pensacola Bay Bridge Starts This Evening
September 4, 2019
Traffic should be flowing across the new bridge by Thursday morning.
After scheduling and canceling other dates to switch traffic to the new Pensacola Bay Bridge, the Florida Department of Transportation has announced the switch will happen Wednesday evening.
U.S. 98 eastbound traffic (Pensacola to Gulf Breeze) will be shifted to the new Pensacola Bay Bridge Wednesday evening, September 4 and U.S. 98 westbound (Gulf Breeze to Pensacola) on Sunday, September 8.
From 8 p.m. Wednesday, and. 4 to 6 a.m. Sunday,, 17th Avenue will be closed to through traffic between Gregory Street and the CSX Railroad overpass. Drivers will be detoured using Ninth Avenue and Cervantes Street (U.S. 90). Access to the visitor’s center, boat ramp, and the Pensacola Bay Fishing Pier will be maintained for local traffic via 17th Avenue.
The temporary configuration for the new bridge will provide two lanes of east and two lanes of westbound traffic, along with a center-lane reserved for emergency vehicles. A multiuse path for pedestrians and bicyclists is expected to be operational near the end of 2019.
With all traffic shifted to the new bridge, construction crews will demolish the current bridge, complete the new westbound structure, and reconstruct the 17th Avenue interchange. All work is currently estimated for completion in mid-2021.
The planned construction activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Comments
17 Responses to “Traffic Switch To New Pensacola Bay Bridge Starts This Evening”
The stories came out about how traffic flowed without problems. News flash, the traffic was worse. Both lanes bumper to bumper frequently stopping. The narrow lanes made me so claustrophobic. Then once I made to Gulf Breeze, the traffic was still bumper to bumper and it took another 20 minutes to finally get home. So now going to work and coming home will take over an hour and this is how it will be for 2 years.
It seems that this bridge has already had too many problems
there will be a lot of traffic to cross this bridge daily and the weight will be enormous!
hopefully it can hold its weight
I m not confident it will because of the many cracks in it upon completions
Not a good sign to me and many others
Jane Doe please
This will be horrible for those of us living on the beach that work in Pensacola. The amount of traffic using this one section will really have delays. I am concerned that this new bridge is not safe and the amount of traffic on this new section will cause the repaired cracks to fail and new cracks to develop. I also believe that the very narrow lanes on this one section of the new bridge for both eastbound and westbound traffic is unsafe.
The second posting by “Fred Garvin” – that was a character from SNL -
“Fred Garvin-Male Prostitute”-starring Dan Akroyd .
The bridge is Exceptional an excellent reflection of Pensacola job well done….
I really hope this bridge holds. I know I’ll ne a nervous wreck the next year driving over it. I hope they were able to fix all the cracks. This will just be very nerve racking asni drive the bridge twice daily
Having worked on this project , the amount of cracks that were FILLED is unreal.
Any takers on how long it will take before an idiot uses the emergency lane to pass vehicles?
I would invite our readers to drive over to Gulf Breeze on the existing bridge and look at the new structure, especially the lack of retaining walls on the approaches, the incomplete lighting, and the temporary guardrails. You can make your own decision whether it is ready for traffic.
I hope they are working on the bridge more than they are Hwy 29.This morning at 9:30, beautiful weather the last several days, I saw 4 people working between 9 1/2 mile Rd and the interstate. I drive the same route several times a week and it’s usually the same every time.
A heartfelt thank you and lots of respect to the people who are doing the hard work. I hope P’cola and Gulf Breeze throw a big party for you. People who are smart, strong and determined are what made and keep us all going. ❤️
I’ll believe it when it actually happens.
No.
Whose idea was it to put these hideous arches on the top? No style, no vision just slap em up there….now there is a bridge—-it says NOTHING about Pensacola—-take the arches down looks like McDonald’s
Just a thought here. If the bridge new name is for CHAPPIE, shouldn’t his family in a limo be first to cross
let’s hope all the crack fill hold
There is no way the work will be completed in mid-2021. You can count on it.